9 City Districts Join Forces To Lobby for Urban Education

Nine moderately sized city school districts are joining forces in an
effort to shape federal policy related to urban education.

The coalition, the National Urban Reform Network, was expected to
announce its formation this week.

The network, its leaders said, will attempt to shape a national
urban-education agenda using advocacy techniques developed by groups
that promote such interests as welfare rights and affordable
housing.

Rather than simply lobbying for more federal spending, they said,
the coalition will seek to guide members of Congress and federal
administrators in targeting federal assistance.

"In the area of policy, you have to be in an active shaping role, or
else,'' said William J. Slotnik, the executive director of the
Boston-based Community Training and Assistance Center, "you are in a
passive recipient role.'' The center, a nonprofit organization that
provides technical assistance on school reform and community
development, spearheaded the effort to create the network.

The network was formed out of the belief that "the chance of having
an impact with a unified message is much greater,'' Mr. Slotnik
said.

District representatives held their first strategy meeting last
week, at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass.

"There is a gulf,'' Mr. Slotnik said, "between the realities that
urban school districts are facing and what has come out of Washington
in terms of a public-policy response over the past 20 years.''

"People who care about kids, ranging from parents to corporate
leaders, are feeling that the needs of urban districts have not gotten
a sufficient response nationally,'' he added.

Competitive Process

The districts were selected to join the coalition through a
competitive process. All were required to demonstrate a dedication to
systemwide school reform to improve student achievement, officials of
the training center said, and the judges favored educators who blended
innovative ideas with a long-term commitment to change.

The involvement of some larger urban districts was precluded, Mr.
Slotnik said, because the coalition requires the direct involvement of
each district's top officials, including its superintendent and
principals, as well as corporate and government leaders, teachers,
parents, and social-service providers.

Other districts may be allowed to join, he said, but "no one will
come in without a substantial buy-in.''

In addition to seeking to shape federal policy, coalition members
plan to swap ideas and disseminate them to other districts.

"We are interested in the possibility of getting together with other
cities to share experiences and ideas for increasing student
learning,'' said John W. Bennion, the superintendent of the Salt Lake
City schools.

Carl A. Cohn, the superintendent of the Long Beach schools, said
last week that he views membership in the coalition as an opportunity
to provide his employees with staff development focused on school
reform.

Part of Three-Year Effort

The training center established the network as part of a three-year
effort, launched in June 1990, to help three districts implement
systemwide reform and then to replicate the improvements elsewhere.

The three districts--Albuquerque, Jackson, and Camden, N.J.--were
provided assistance in the areas of restructuring, establishing
corporate partnerships, fostering collaboration between communities and
schools, and increasing parent involvement.

The training center has received grants from several philanthropies,
including the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Charles Stewart Mott, W.K.
Kellogg, and Danforth foundations, to underwrite its activities,
including the development of the reform network.

Ground Rules for Posting
We encourage lively debate, but please be respectful of others. Profanity and personal attacks are prohibited. By commenting, you are agreeing to abide by our user agreement.
All comments are public.